Aren't they both free agents? It seems like they could just agree to go to the same team. Rose + Wade + Lebron = 5 consecutive titles. I don't see the appeal of Bosh + Lebron, it seems like Wade would offer more.

I don't think Wade wants to be the 2nd option on the team.

Also, to answer your question, LBJ is not a free agent right now.

ummm...

wut.

1. money.
2. see #1.
3. wade and rose are too similar. they shouldn't play together.

quote:

---

Rose + Wade + Lebron = 5 consecutive titles

---

Yeah except that when Rose is restricted in a couple of years and has to get paid, Chicago probably couldn't afford to have ME as their starting center.

Those three players on a team would be great. But the supporting cast that would be affordable would be a bunch of Matt Bonner types running around jacking up bricks and dribbling the ball off their foot.

I like where the OP's head is at.

Personally, I'd like to see Lebron call Boozer or Bosh and team up in Chicago. I think the Bulls have enough $$$ to sign one max FA and another in the 5-10 mil range. If they can unload Hinrich or Deng (hopefully Deng), they might have enough to sign two.

I vote the Bulls grab Boozer and Lebron and call it a summer.

PG: Rose
SG: Hinrich
SF: James
PF: Boozer
C: Noah

Bench: Taj Gibson, Acie Law

I like.

What is Chicago offering in the S&T to Cleveland when they sign LeBron?

LeBron is a FA. There doesn't have to be a sign & trade.

Chicago could offer Hinrich and Deng, who combine for just under $20 mill in annual salary. That would fit for Lebron. My question is, even if they do a S&T, I fail to see how they would have enough cap space to do anything beyond that. Even after you subtract all of their expiring contracts, they're only about $5 or $6 mill under the luxury tax threshold.

The bulls don't have enough cap space to sign Lebron outright, hence the S&T. Also Sign and Trades are for the most part only done with free agents, hence the "sign" part. Otherwise it would just be a "trade."

The Bulls absolutely have enough cap space for a max deal and they'd still have a little left over after that. I'm not sure where you're getting your info from, but I would try another source next time.

[This message has been edited by Dr. Cub, Esq. (edited 5/13/2010 10:10a).]

quote:

---

Dr. Cub, Esq.
posted 10:02a, 05/13/10



LeBron is a FA. There doesn't have to be a sign & trade.

---

I'm assuming LeBron demands a S&T so he can get an extra year and more money. Is there speculation that he would take less money/years to sign outright with the Bulls?

That's what I get for referencing ESPN's NBA Trade Machine. It lists their payroll at $69 mill, yet the salaries only add up to about 55. oops.

quote:

---

I'm assuming LeBron demands a S&T so he can get an extra year and more money. Is there speculation that he would take less money/years to sign outright with the Bulls?

---

Why would he demand something that would make it extra hard for him to go where he wants to be? The dude already has a **** ton of money and with the way the Cleveland media/fans are treating him right now I could understand if he wants to leave immediately. Plus, he's still young enough to be able to sign another long term deal after his next one expires if he so desires so a 5-year deal might be better than a 6-year deal for him. Another thing that a S&T does is make his new team weaker. Why would he want the Bulls to give up Deng & Hinrich for example for a few extra bucks? If it's all about the money, he'll stay in Cleveland.

man cooby that lebron/bulls photo just looks meant to happen.

i think deluxe just came when he saw that

quote:

---

If it's all about the money, he'll stay in Cleveland.

---

Or he'll take a S&T to a non-division opponent that offers more to Cleveland without weakening their team too much.

I don't know if LeBron will take less money to go play in Jordan's shadow for a few years and then seek another max contract.

Taking less money to go to a division rival would be a giant Eff You to his home state. An S&T where Cleveland gets some picks, cash and maybe young talent would be more reasonable.

[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 5/13/2010 10:41a).]

They make a lot of money, but they spend a lot too.

He will get a max contract, either from the Cavs or a team that does a S&T with the Cavs. He won't just walk and leave that much money on the table.

I don't think Lebron signing with the Bulls would be an giant F U to Cleveland. Lebron signing with the Bulls means that he recognizes one key fact...

Bulls chances of winning multiple championships in the next 8-10 years with Lebron >>>>>>> Cavs chances of winning multiple championships in the next 8-10 years with Lebron

quote:

---

Why would he demand something that would make it extra hard for him to go where he wants to be? The dude already has a **** ton of money and with the way the Cleveland media/fans are treating him right now I could understand if he wants to leave immediately. Plus, he's still young enough to be able to sign another long term deal after his next one expires if he so desires so a 5-year deal might be better than a 6-year deal for him.

---

How does a S&T make it harder for him to go where he wants? It basically makes any team an option, instead of just those with cap space.

quote:

---

Another thing that a S&T does is make his new team weaker. Why would he want the Bulls to give up Deng & Hinrich for example for a few extra bucks? If it's all about the money, he'll stay in Cleveland.

---

Or he can have his cake and eat it too. S&T makes this possible. Sign a huge deal with Cleveland and get shipped to anywhere you want to go. If he wants to go to a cap strapped team, Cleveland gets something decent in return, LBJ gets paid and his choice of a new team. Everybody wins. If he wants to go to a team with plenty of cap space, he can still do a S&T and get paid, but he's also got leverage against Cleveland: I'm gonna get paid no matter what, but if you get me more money you'll get something out of this too (draft picks, maybe a prospect or two). If you try too hard to swindle my destination team in a S&T I'm walking and you get nothing.

quote:

---

How does a S&T make it harder for him to go where he wants? It basically makes any team an option, instead of just those with cap space.

---

Because Cleveland has to find a team willing to trade matching contracts of players they actually want. You don't think that would be a difficult process? Cleveland isn't going to take on any crappy players with big contracts.

quote:

---

Or he'll take a S&T to a non-division opponent that offers more to Cleveland without weakening their team too much.

---

For a player to be getting a max deal and be someone that Cleveland actually wants, he would have to be pretty damn good. It wouldn't be all that beneficial for a team to trade a great player away to get LeBron.

I see no way Cleveland participates in a sign & trade.

Lebron and Boozer would be nice but I just don't think the Bulls have the money to do that unless they dump some contracts. The bulls need to pick up Lebron and a 3pt. shooter. If they could have a consistent outside threat DRose and Lebron would own the paint even without a true post player.

just wondering....

anyone think lebron wont go to chicago because of MJ? dude changed his number because of MJ.

isn't chicago a little too... following in MJ's footsteps?

championships i understand, but legacy during the championships is possibly a counterpoint. little too...shadow of the colossus maybe?

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 5/13/2010 1:37p).]

Here is the major difference between Kobe & LeBron. LBJ has always talked about how he loves Jordan and was a huge fan. He wears his #23 now and has even suggested that everyone in the league wearing #23 change it next year out of respect for MJ, yet he is his own player.

Kobe has always shied away from that side of things, yet you can tell by watching him that he mimics Jordan so much I sometimes have flashbacks to when I was watching the Bulls as a kid. It amazes me how damn near every little move or gesture Kobe makes is a copy of Jordan.

I can't see Kobe ever coming to the Bulls, but I could imagine LeBron dreaming of playing for the same team his hero did.

and yet...would the main purpose of leaving cleveland be:

A. better chance to win a championship elsewhere
B. better chance to build global brand (which lebron has been quoted verbatim)

and if it's B....would have have less as good of a chance building a global brand in chicago because of the not too distant MJ past. kobe was going to the Lakers, a storied franchise, but they needed to be resurrected and brought back to the old ways. Magic and Kareem are long gone. MJ is still around.

quote:

---

Magic and Kareem are long gone. MJ is still around.

---

huh?

I agree BigW. The Bulls could win titles with Rose, a shooter at the 2, James at the three, and a bunch of hustle defenders/rebounders down low. Ideally I'd like to grab another big, but there are many types of compliments to a James/Rose/Noah nucleus.

And didn't Kobe try to get traded to the Bulls a few years ago?

Kobe's rookie season was only 6 years after Magic's final season (not counting his 32 game stint in 1996). Lebron's rookie season was six years after MJ last wore a Bulls uniform. No difference.

cooby, i meant MJ is more involved in the news and NBA than Magic and Kareem. MJ played in 2003. MJ owns the bobcats and looks to try make some waves/news for himself.

just sayin, he's more around than magic and kareem are in terms of scope. i mean look at the hoopla MJ's HOF speech caused. if he makes a quote itll be headline news. magic could have a 5 girl orgy and it would go unnoticed. (too soon?)

quote:

---

Dr. Cub, Esq.
posted 11:38a, 05/13/10



quote:
Or he'll take a S&T to a non-division opponent that offers more to Cleveland without weakening their team too much.

For a player to be getting a max deal and be someone that Cleveland actually wants, he would have to be pretty damn good. It wouldn't be all that beneficial for a team to trade a great player away to get LeBron.

---

There is no possible comparable talent that will be offerred for LeBron, and of course LeBron wouldn't go to a team that just traded it's best player back to the Cavs. That's not an option. He will go to a team that doesn't have to trade back too much talent back to Cleveland.

Cleveland would definitely prefer a sign and trade, so they can get some assets to start rebuilding. If LeBron leaves Cleveland will blow it up and start over like Seattle and Minnesota in '07. Seattle was able to get a giant trade exception for Rashard Lewis when he left for Orlando, which helped them make future deals.

So again, what will Chicago bring to the table? No way Cleveland would take Deng and Hinrich's contract off their hands. Cleveland will want picks and young talent so they can start rebuilding.

The Nets can offer a better package because they have the probable #1 pick, plus they also have a solid nucleus to build around:

Harris+Lopez > Rose+Noah
Russian Mark Cuban+Jaz-Z > Reinsdrof
Brooklyn > Chicago with Jordan's statue at the arena


[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 5/13/2010 2:44p).]

quote:

---

Harris and Lopez > Rose and Noah

---

Sarcasm?

quote:

---

Harris+Lopez > Rose+Noah
Russian Mark Cuban+Jaz-Z > Reinsdrof
Brooklyn > Chicago with Jordan's statue at the arena

---

this cant be real.

A+ for troll effort.

No sarcasm. 2 all-star PGs. 2 talented young Cs. All great talents.

Rose > Harris
Lopez > Noah

Harris+Lopez > Rose+Noah

sweet baby zeus **** monkey

I'll let my emoticon do the talking...